Vending machine



Dec. 23, 1941.

A. BRADT VENDING MACHINE Filed May 1, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Arddn A. BradT BY his ATTORNEY Dec. 23, 1941. BRADT 2,267,599

VENDING MACHINE Filed May 1, 1959 s Sheet-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Ardon A. BradT hi AT RNEY Dec. 23, 1941. A. A. BRADT VENDING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 1, 1939 INVENTOR Arden A. BTadT his AT ORNEY Patented Dec. 23, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VENDENG MACHINE Arden A. Bradt, Niagara Falls, N. Y.

Application May 1, 1939, Serial No. 271,691

Claims.

This invention relates to coin operated vending machines and has for an object the provision of an improved machine of the character referred to.

In the drawings, which are appended for the purpose of illustrating the invention and aiding in the understanding of the invention,

Figure 1 is a front view of the exterior and part of the interior of a machine embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of a mechanism embodying the present invention;

Figure 3 is a side view of the machine illustrated in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a plan view of th'e machine illustr-ated in Figures 2 and 3, obtained by removing the frame of the machine and all of the structure attached thereto above the line IV-IV of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a wiring diagram of the machine illustrated in the other figures.

The machine illustrated in the drawings is of the type that dispenses tokens, coupons or fortune telling cards, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to machines dispensing such articles because the drawings are for illustrative purposes only and the machines can be modified to dispense merchandise of substantially any description without departing from the scope of the invention. In the present disclosure, the term token will be used for simplicity of language, with the understanding that the term shall be taken to mean not only tokens of the usual sort but coupons, fortune telling cards and merchandise of the nature that can be dispensed by a machine.

Figure 1 shows a machine comprising a plurality of magazines I, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, adapted to contain a supply of difierent kinds of tokens, in a case 1. At the top of the machine illustrated is a coin slot 8 and at the right of the machine is a handle 9 which is adapted to set into operation the mechanism in the case 1 when pulled down after a coin has been deposited in the coin slot 8. A window In permits a view of the symbols l2 and I3, which are carried on revolvable wheels and which indicate the nature of the token that is to be dispensed through the opening M at the lower part of the case 1 at the conclusion of the particular operation of the machine.

Figure 2 shows the magazines I, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 provided with bottom closure members 2|, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26, respectively, which are slidably mounted beneath the magazines and in slots 55 provided for them in the plate 28. The closure plates 2|, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 have normally projecting. legs 3|, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36, respectively, which are operatively connected to the electromagnets 4|, 42, 43, 44, and 48 respectively.

Each of the electromagnets is controlled by a switch but only the switches 5| and 56 that control the electromagnets 4| and 46 respectively are shown in Figure 2. The other switches 52, 53, 54 and 55 are shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5.

As shown in Figure 2 the switch 56 has been closed by the movement of the lever 66 and the switch 5| has been opened by the rotation of the pivoted lever 51, which received its rotation by virtue of the pressure exerted on the members of the switch 56 by the lever 66.

The movement of the lever 66, and hence the movement of the switches 5| and 56, is controlled by the relative positions of the perforated disks 41, 48 and 49, which are connected to the drums 1 I, 12 and 13 respectively. Each of the disks and its respectively connected drum is independently rotatable with respect to the other disks and drums.

The disks 41, 48 and 49 have notches completely around their peripheries (as shown in Figure 3) and these notches are engageable by the spring actuated pawl 80. Engagement of the pawl 88 with the notches in the disks 41, 48, 49 causes these disks and their respectively connected drums 1|, 12 and 13 to rotate freely and independently until the pawls 8|, 82 and 83 engage the notched peripheries of the disks 9|, 92 and 93, respectively, and causes them and the respectively connected drums 1|, 12 and 13 to come to rest. The pawls 8|, 82 and 83 are rotatable about th'e shaft 84 and are engaged by the arm 85, which turns on the shaft 84 just prior to the actuation of the drums 1|, 12, and 13 by the engagement of the pawl 88 with the notched disks 41, 48 and 49 and pushes the lower parts of the pawls 8|, 82 and 83 toward the rear of the machine and thus lifts the opposite ends of the pawls 8| 82 and 83 away from and out of engagement with the notched disks 9|, 92 and 93.

When the movement of the handle 9 has proceeded to a certain point it becomes disengaged from the actuating mechanism and the arm is returned to a position toward the front of the machine and out of engagement with the pawls 8| 82 and 83, whereupon the pawls 8| 82 and 83 again engage the notched disks 9|, 92 and 93 and bring the drums II, 12 and 13 with their respectively connected disks 41, 48 and 49 to rest.

As stated above, the disks 41, 48 and 49 are perforated. These perforations are in a predetermined pattern such that by the disks 41, 48 and 49 coming to rest at certain positions, a perforation in eachof the disks will come into alignment and provide an opening through which the finger 86 at the upper end of the lever 63 will be urged by the spring 81. In this arrangement of the disks 41, 48 and 49 the finger 83 passes through all of them and the tip 88 of the finger 8B protrudes beyond the face 89 of the disk 49. This movement of the finger 93 through the disks 41, 48 and 49 causes the lever 36 to turn on its pivot 90 and thereby move its lower arm in a counterclockwise direction. Such counter-clockwise movement of the lower arm of the lever 66 pushes the switch 56 into the closed position and the switch into the open position and causes the movement of the plate 23 into a dispensing position, as shown in Figure 4.

Wh'en the disks 41, 48 and 49 come to rest in certain other positions, their perforations line up to provide an opening through which one or another of fingers similar to that of the lever 63 shown in Figure 2, but which are connected to other levers not shown in Figure 2, may pass and thus cause the operation of one or another of the other closure members 22, 23, 24 or 25.

If desired, the disks 41, 48 and 49 could be so perforated and the levers 62, 63, 64, 65 and 63 or any of them could be so adjusted that the pay out mechanism of any stack or stacks could be operated by a perforation in one disk, e. g. disk 41 or by a combination of perforations in two disks, 6. g., disks 41 and 48.

In still other positions of the disks 41, 48 and 49, no through opening will be provided for any finger of a lever similar'to the lever 63 shown in Figure 2, in which case none of the closures, 22, 23, 24, 25 or 23 is caused to open and dispense a token, coupon or fortune-telling card. When the disks line up in such positions that none of the closures 22, 23, 24, 25 or 28 is opened, the switch 5| remains in its normally closed position and the closure member 2! of the magazine I is operated to dispense a token, coupon, fortune-telling card or other article contained in that magazine.

Figure 3 shows a side view of the notched disk 49, which is connected to the drum 13, when the finger 86 of the lever 56 has passed through the perforated disks 41,48 and 49 and therefore has closed the switch 56 and energized the electromagnet 46 that actuates the slide 29 of the closure member for the stack 3 against the action of the spring I06.

Figure 3 also shows the mechanism for freeing the drum 13 for rotation. As shown in the drawings, the pawl 83 is in engagement with the notched disk 93, which is connected to the drum 13. .When the handle 9 (shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2) is pulled down, the rear bell-crank I2I is rotated about its shaft I in a counter-clockwise direction and thereby engages the forward bell-crank I22 and causes it to move about the shaft 84 in a clockwise direction. As the forward bell-crank moves in a clockwise direction, it engages the foot I 23 of the pivoted pawl 83 and causes it to move along in a clockwise direction also. The clockwise movement of the foot I23 of the pawl .83 causes the upper end of the pawl 83 to'move out of engagement with the notched disk 93 and thereby frees the drum, 13

for rotation. Drums 1I and 12 shown in the other drawings are freed by the similar actions of levers BI and 82, respectively.

At the same time the foot I23 of the pawl 83 is moved clockwise, the lever 524 is moved forward until it is under the end I25 of the foot I23 of the pawl 83. By this time the rear bellcrank IZI has moved up to its limit of movement and has become disengaged from the actuating handle 9, whereupon it is pulled back in a clockwise direction by the spring I 46 and permits the forward bell-crank I22 to drop back in a counter-clockwise direction. The lever I24 then temporarily holds up the end I25 of the foot I23 of the pawl 83 so that the drum 13 can rotate freely. Removal of the pawls 8i and 82 from engagement with the notched disks 9| and 92, respectively, is accomplished in the same manner, namely, by means of the forward bell-crank I22 and the lever I24.

In addition to causing disengagement of the pawl 83 with the notched disk 93, the counterclockwise movement of the rear bell-crank I2I also causes engagement of its lower end I21 with the projecting pin I32 on the flat bell-crank I33 and causes that bell-crank to move in a counterclockwise direction against the action of the spring I31. This mechanism, is shown also in Figure 4.

As shown in Figure 4, the counter-clockwise rotation of the flat bell-crank I33 causes the link I3I to push the lever I24 forward until that lever is under and supporting the foot I25.of the pawl 83, as described in connection with Figure 3. When the flat bell-crank I33 moves in a counterclockwise direction, the pivoted tip I34 of the bell-crank I33 moves out of engagement with the long arm I35 of the switch I28 and because of its being pivoted as shown in Figure 5 it slips over the shorter arm MI and thus does not disturb the open position of that-switch.

The pivot I84 is rigidly attached to the bellcrank I33 and also to the gear I30 which is beneath the bell-crank I33 and engages a spur gear I38 which forms a part of a train of gears terminating in the gear I39, to which is connected the vane I40.

Upon disengagement between the handle 9 and the rear bell-crank being effected, the rear bellcrank I2I is pulled back to its starting position by the spring I46 connected thereto. The end I21 of the rear bell-crank I2I thus being removed from engagement with the pin I32 of the bellcrank I33, the bell-crank I33 is urged towards its starting position by the spring I31 connected to the arm I35. The rate of return of the bellcrank I33 to its starting position is controlled, however, by the rotating vane I40, which is driven by the train of gears beginning with the gear I30 and ending with the spur gear I39 connected to the shaft supporting the vane I 40. The windage caused by the rotation of the vane I40 causes the return of the rear bell-crank I2! to its starting position to be retarded and thereby permit free rotation of the drums 1|, 12 and 13 for a period of time of longer duration than would be the case were the rear bell-crank urged back by the spring I31 without interference by the vane I40.

As the rear bell-crank I 2| is slowly moved back to its starting position, it pulls the lever I24 in a clockwise direction by means of the link I3I and this clockwise movement of the pivoted lever I24 draws that member from beneath the foot I 25 of the pawl 83 (and also from beneath the corresponding feet of the pawls 82 and 8|). Withdrawal of the pivoted lever I24 from beneath the feet of pawls BI, 82 and 83 permits those pawls to be drawn into engagement with the notched disks 9|, 92 and 93, respectively, and thus stop the rotation of the drums II, I2 and I3, respectively.

If the drums II, I2 and I3 are thus stopped in such positions that their respectively connected perforated disks 41, 48 and 49 are so positioned that a perforation in each then lines up to provide an opening into which the end finger of one of the levers 62, 63, 64, 65 or 66 can pass through all three disks that lever will be caused to rotate counter-clockwise about the pivot 90 by virtue of a spring 81 and cause one of the switches 52, 53, 54, 55 or 56 to close and the switch 5| to open.

After moving from beneath the feet of the levers BI, 82 and 83 the lever I24 continues to move slowly back to its original position it occupied before the machine was put into operation by the movement of the handle 9. As the flat bell-crank I 33 continues to pull back to lever I24. and just after one of the levers 62, 63, 64, 65 or 66 has closed one of the switches 52, 53, 55 or 56 and opened switch 5|, the tip I34 of the flat bell-crank I33 engages the shorter arm I4| of the normally open master switch I28 9 and pushes it into contact with the longer arm I35 of the same switch and then passes out of engagement with the shorter arm I 4| and into engagement with the longer arm I35. Thus,

while one of the switches 52, 53, 54, 55 or 56 is closed, and While the switch 5! is open, the normally open master switch I28 is closed for a short period of time and one of the electromagnets 42, 43, 44 or 45 (depending upon which of the switches 52, 53, 54, 55 or 56 is closed) is engaged. The energized electromagnet then pulls the corresponding slide 22, 23, 24, 25 or 26 from beneath the corresponding stack 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 and dispenses the token that has rested in the opening therein, for example opening I5 of slide 25 as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

Inasmuch as the normally open master switch I28 is closed only for a short period of time, the

electromagnet that is energized by its closing is de-energized after causing the dispensing of a token and the slide operated by that electromagnet is restored to its original position immediately after having dispensed the token by the action of the spring I82, I03, I24, IE5 or I06.

In the event that the drums II, I2 and I3 come to rest in such positions that none of the fingers of the levers 62, 63, 64, 65 or 66 can pass through all of the disks 41, 48 and 49 as described above, the normally closed switch 5| remains closed and none of the normally open switches 52, 53, 54, 55 or 56 close. Then, as described above, the return movement of the fiat bellcrank I33 causes the normally open master switch I28 to close for a short period of time and thus energize the electromagnet 4|. Energizing of the electromagnet 4! causes the slide 2| under the stack I to move toward the electromagnet, against the action of the spring IIEI, and causes the token in the opening of the slide 2| to be dispensed.

While the stack or magazine closure slides 2|, 22, 23, 24, 25 or 25 shown in the drawings are of such thickness to permit only one coin or token to be dispensed at a time from any given magazines, it will be understood that any or all of the said slides can be made of such thickness as will accommodate a plurality of coins or tokens and therefore cause more than one coin or token to be dispensed when such slide is operated by its corresponding electromagnet.

Figure 5 shows a wiring diagram for a machine of the kind illustrated and described above and also shows the tip of the flat bell-crank I33 in more detail. The leads I5I and I52 are to be connected to the source of electrical energy, which is not shown in these drawings; The one lead |5I connects with one side of each of the switches 5|, 52, 53, 54, 55 and 55. The other terminals of the said switches are connected respectively to the electromagnets 4|, 42,

43, 44, 45 and 46.

The other lead I52 is connected to one terminal of the normally open master switch I28. 'Iheother terminal of the normally open master switch I 28 is connected to all of the electromagnets 4|, 42, 43, 44, 45 and 46 As shown in Figure 5, the tip I34 of the flat bell-crank I33 is pivoted at I43 and is against the shoulder I44 of the fiat bell-crank I33. Thus, when the bell-crank moves in a clockwise direction, the tip I34 is engaged by the shoulder I44 and is urged along, but when the fiat bellcrank I33 moves in a counter-clockwise direction the tip I33 turns on its pivot I43 when it engages the arm |4| of the master switch I28.

While the foregoing disclosure and the appended drawings specifically describe one modification of a machine, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such details as are specifically described and illustrated, but that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a vending machine, the combination comprising a plurality of token stacks having individually and electromagnetically operable dispensing closure means, and selective actuating means for the same operable at each operation of the machine to automatically select and actuate one only of said stack closures at each operation of the machine.

2. In a vending machine, the combination comprising a plurality of token stacks having individually and electromagnetically operable dispensing closure means, and selective actuating means for the same operable automatically to actuate one only of said stack closures at each operation of the machine comprising a plurality of switches, each of which controls one of said dispensing closure means, and means operable automatically to actuate one only of said switches at each operation of the machine.

3. In a vending machine, the combination comprising a plurality of token stacks having individually and electromagnetically operable dispensing closure means, and selective actuating means for the same operable automatically to actuate one only of said stack closures at each operation of the machine comprising a plurality of switches, each of which controls one of said dispensing closure means, and means operable automatically to actuate one only of said switches at each operation of the machine comprising a plurality of levers in individual engagement with said switches and means operable automatically to actuate one only of said levers at each operation of the machine.

4. In a vending machine, the combination comprising a plurality of token stacks having individually and :electromagnetically operable dis pensing closure means, and selective actuating means for the same operable automatically to actuate one only of said stack closures at each operation of the machine comprising a plurality of switches, each of which controls one of said dispensing closure means, and means operable automatically to actuate one only of said switches at each operation of the machine comprising a plurality of levers in individual engagement with said switches and means operable automatically to actuate one only of said levers at each operation of the machine comprising a plurality of coaxially mounted and perforated disks which are individually and freely rotatable and positioned to receive said lovers in the perforations.

5. In a vending machine, the combination comprising a plurality of stacks, a dispensing closure member associated with each of said stacks, an electromagnetic means associated with each of said dispensing closure members for actuating the same and automatic means for selectively operating one only of said electromagnetic means at each operation of the machine comprising a normally closed switch in series with one of said electromagnetic means, a normally open switch in series with each of the other electromaengtic means, a lever in engagement with each of said normally open switches and all of said levers being in engagement with said closed switch and a plurality of independently rotatable disks mounted coaxially and having a plurality of perforations therein providing a plurality of combinations wherein a perforation in one of said disk lines up with perforations in the other disks to provide an opening to receive one only of said levers and thereby permit a movement of such lever which causes the opening of the normally closed switch and the closing of one of the normally open switches.

ARDON A. BRADT. 

